Fish lure



y 5, 1951 L. R. MILLER 2,552,730

FISH LURE Filed Dec. 10, 1948 JNVENTOR.

Zea/ [Z M/Wer Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

2 Claims.

My invention relates to fish lures of the type comprising an artificial bait adapted to be drawn through the water by a fish line. Such lures are well known and include numerous means for imparting lifelike movement to the lure for the purpose of attracting fish. Moreover, such lures frequently include means movable relative to the lure and actuated by the movement of the lure through the water for attracting the attention of fish. Thus, such lures appeal to the eyes of the fish, whereby the attraction of the fish is purely visual. As is well known, all fish include organs corresponding to human ears. While it is believed that such organs are incapable of actually hearing sounds within the meaning of the term as generally used, it is well known that such organs are sensitive to sound waves, particularly sound waves transmitted through the water. Likewise, as is well known, water provides an excellent medium for the transmission of sound waves. Also, as is well known, a rapidly-vibrating spring, particularly a resonant spring, such as a leaf spring, is an excellent medium for creating sound waves.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved fish lure which includes means mounted thereon for transmitting sound waves through the water together with means for actuating selectively said sound wavecreating means.

A further object is to provide an improved fish lure such as that last described, wherein the fish line is operatively connected to the sound wavegenerating means whereby to actuate the latter in response to a pull on the fish line.

A further object is to provide an improved fish lure which has a resonant spring mounted therein in exposed relation to the water, together with means operatively connected to a fish line and engageable with said spring to trip the same responsive to a pull on the fish line whereby to impart rapid vibrations to the spring so as to transmit sound waves to the water.

Other objects and. advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, combination and arrangement of the several parts thereof, and will be readily understood by those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing in connection with the following specification, wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a lure according to the invention, parts being broken away and shown in longitudinal vertical section;

Figure 2 is a plan View thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longi tudinal vertical sectional View through the rear end of the lure;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the sound wave-producing element of the lure apart from the rest of the structure.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference characters have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, the lure according to the invention is generally indicated at E9 includes a body ll of any suitable well known iorm. The body H may have secured thereto a suitable vane H for imparting a desired motion to the lure id as the same is drawn through the water by a fish line [4. In the embodiment illustrated, the vane I2 is attached to the rear end of the body and so disposed as to impart a diving movement to the lure as the same is drawn through the water. Also, the lure body Il may have secured thereto a suitable hook I3.

The lure according to the invention contemplates the mounting on the body Ii thereof of a resonant vibrator together with means for selectively actuating the same. Thus, the vibrator may comprise a resonant leaf spring I5 which is mounted in an elongated opening it formed in the lure body ll longitudinally thereof. The opening It may be closed at the front and rear ends, but preferably opens laterally through both sides of the body l I. Also, in the form illustrated the body H is formed with a vertically-directed opening or slot i1 therethrough from its bottom to top which communicates with at least the forward portion of the opening it, The vibrator spring [5 is mounted in the opening it and extends longitudinally for a portion of the length of said side opening so as to provide a free front end it in spaced relation to the sides of said opening it and located adjacent the front end of the opening Iii, but within the opening or slot 1?. The rear end of the spring is may be provided with openings 23 whereby pins 29 may be passed through the same and the lure body H to anchor the rear end of the spring to the lure body.

To impart vibrations to the free end 18 of the spring l5, there has been provided a tripper now to be described.

Thus, a pintle It extends transversely across the opening or slot I1 forwardly of the forward end of the opening it. The outer ends of the pintle I 9 are embedded in the lure body and a tripper 20 is pivotally mounted thereon inwardly 3 of the opening or slot [1. The tripper 20 comprises a pawl which includes a dog 2! projecting rearwardly into the front portion of the opening it so as to engage the free front end 18 of the spring I5. The tripper 20 likewise includes an upwardly-directed arm 22, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to a forwardlydirected link 25 which is slidably mounted in the front end of the lure body. The link 25 includes a front end extending forwardly out of the lure body and formed to provide an eye 28 for attachment to the fish line M. A cylindrical recess 23 is formed in the lure body and opens into the upper portion of the opening or slot ll whereby to provide a seat for a coil spring 25 concentrically disposed about the link 25. The rear end of the coil spring bears against the forsaid first opening and extending longitudinally for a portion of the length of the latter, said spring including a free end in spaced relation to ward edge of the arm 22 of the tripper 20, where- V by the same is biased for pivotal movement in a counter-clockwise direction about pintle l9, as viewed in Figure l. The tripper 28 may also include a stop finger 2'! depending therefrom and engageable with the forward wall of the opening or slot i'i whereby to limit pivotal movement of the tripper in a countereclockwise direction under the influence of the spring 24. Thus, as clearly shown in Figure 1, the spring 2 5 biases the tripper to an inoperative position wherein the dog 2! is out of engagement with the free end IB of the spring I5. V

In operation, a steady pull on the line M will normally do no more than move the dog 2! into engagement with the free end it of the spring l5. Thus, the lure [0 may be drawn through the water and the vane or vanes 12 will impart a suitable or desired erratic movement to the lure. However, if a sudden jerk or hard pull is im'- parted to the line [5, the dog 21 is operative to first flex and then release the free end of the spring 18 whereby to impart rapid vibrations of a resonant character to the same in a well known manner. In view of the damping effect of the surrounding water on the spring l5, such vibrations are of relatively short duration whereby the spring 24 returns the tripper 2G to the inoperative position. If desired, the parts may be so arranged that such return movement will also trip the free end 3 of the spring so as to impart resonant vibrations thereto on the return stroke of the tripper. At the same time, the actuating jerk or pull on the line It accelerates the forward movement of the lure whereb to increase the erratic movement of the same and visually attract the attention of fish while the vibrations of the spring are transmitted in all directions through the water to any fish within hearing distance. Obviously, by continuing the actuating pulls on the line [4, the spring l5 may be caused to vibrate at short intervals whereby to cause a virtually continuous broadcast of the resonant vibrations of the spring.

While I have shown and described what is now thought to be a preferred embodiment of the in-' the sides of said first opening a tripper pivotally mounted in said second opening and movable for tripping engagement with said free end of said 1eaf spring'to deflect and release the same to cause vibrations of said leaf spring, a fish line, means operativel connecting said tripper to said fish line whereby to impart tripping movement to said tripper in response to a pull. on said fish line and resilient means operatively connected to said means for biasing said tripper out of tripping engagement with the free end of said leaf spring.

V 2. A fish lure comprising a body, there being a first openin in said body extending longitudinally and transversely of the latter, said body having a second opening extending completely therethrough from the top to the bottom thereof and in communication with said first named opening, a leaf spring mounted in said body in said first opening and extending longitudinally for a portion of the length of the latter, said spring including a free end in spaced relation to the sides of said first opening, a tripper pivotally mounted in said opening and movable for tripping engagement with said free end of said leaf spring to deflect and release the same to cause vibrations of said leaf spring, a fish line, a link operatively connecting said tripper to said fish line whereby to impart tripping movement to said tripper in response to a pull on said fish line, and a coiled spring circumposed about said link and operatively connected to said tripper and body for biasing said tripper out of tripping engagement with the free end of said leaf spring. LEON R. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OByrne Feb. 8, 1944 

